Means for increasing the air-blast of converters and furnaces.



No. 871,079. PATENTED NOV. 12, 190?. R. BAGGALEY, G. M. ALLEN & E.'W. LIND'QUIST.

MEANS EOR INCREASING THE AIR BLAST 0F CONVERTERS AND FURNAGES.

APPLICATION FILED MAYVIS, 1905.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES I? mvzwrons mar No. 871,079. PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907. R. BAGCALEY, C. M. ALLEN E. W. LINDQUIST. MEANS FOR INCREASING THE AIR BLAST 0F CONVERTERS AND FURNACES.

APPLICATION IILED HAY 13, 1905.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wrruessss mvem'ons imw Web/W? 44ml J/Y Nd. 871,079. PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907. R. BAGGALEY, G. M. ALLEN & E. W LINDQUIST.

MEANS FOR I NGREASING THE AIR BLAST 0F CONVERTERS AND FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1905.

WITNESSES v No. 871,079. I

- R; BAGGALBY, c. M. ALLEN & .LINDQUIST. MEANS FOR INCREASING THE AIR BLAST 0F VERTERS AND FURNACES.

' APPLIOATIO ILB PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907.

n r 1) MAY 13,1905.

7 sHEnTs-sn'nm 5.

WITNESSES INVENTORS COMM/r3416 4 Mn M No. 871,079. PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907. R. BAGGALEY, G. E1. ALLEN & E. W. LINDQUIST. MEANS FOR INCREASING THE AIR BLAST 0F CONVERTERS AND FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1905.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

' UNI ED STATES AT NT oEs1cE.

RALPH 'BAGGALEY, or PITTSBURG, PENNSYL ANIA, CHARLES M.- ALLEN, OF L L0, MON- TANA, AND EDWARD W. INDQUIST; or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS. BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 PITTSBURGH AND MONTANA COPPER COMPANY, O

PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

mssrrsmon r cnEAsrNoTnnnR-nmsT or eoN'vERTE'ns A D FURNACES.

To all'whom; it may concern." v

Be itknow'n that we, Ram's Baoennnr, burg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania,; CHanLss M.

ALLEN, of Lo Lo, 'Missoula county, Montana, and Ely WARD W..L1'NDQUIs'T; of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented anew and useful Means for Increasing ,the AirsBlast of Converters and Furnaces, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming 1 0 part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a front elevation of aportion of a -.'conv erter equipped with one form of apparatus embodyingour invention. Fig. 2 representsan end elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig.3 represents a cross-section of a converter, showing one twyer, the 'wind-box, one form of punchingbar andj'the levers of the mechanism that actuate the punching-bar in different positions. Fig. 4 illustrates x the details of the sleeve shown on the punching-bar in i Fig. 3, whereby it may be secured at any desired point on the bar, through the medium of a set-screw i and gib. Fig. 5 illustrates an alternative form of punching-bar, which can be adjusted accurately with hand-wheels and which is provided with a head, so

that a wrench or dog may be attached for its removal by hand, in the eventof accident to the'mechanism. Fig; 6 illustrates an end view of Fig. 5. Fig.

7 illustrates in cro'ss-section, one twyer and the cutterplug that is used in removing scale from the punchingbar. each timethe latter is withdrawn from the orifice.

, Fig. 8-is a section on the line I-I of Fig. 7. Fig. 9

. 'is asideview of the plug. showing the grooves for the' shows a plan view of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 shows an end view of Fig; 11, partly in section. Fig. 14 illustrates a modified form of Fig. 11 equipped with apparatus for the removal of scale from the punching-bars. Fig. 15 shows a section on the line IIII of Fig. -14.

Thelobje'ct of our invention may be briefly stated to be:

1st. -To augment the air-blast delivered into convertersor iurnaces.-

2nd.-To eliminate the present laborious, expensive and unsatisfactorymethod of punching twyers by hand, in either converters or in furnaces of any kind, and to do thiswork by machinery intermittently or continuously, as may be preferred. Hand-punching Specification of Letters Patent. Applioatioli filed a, 13. 1905. satin No. 260.212.

of Pittsor to renew the lining of the converter.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

is unsatisfactory, not only on account of the negligence of the workman, but because it isnecessarily slow, whereby the punching bar remainsin the converter long enough to become heated up to approximately the temperature of the, bath, whereupon the molten slag and matte quickly attach themselves to the highly heated punching bar and thus choke and eventually entirely close the twyer. Neither molten slag ormatte can possibly attach themselves to a cold punching bar, hence an important object of the present invention is not only to work the punching bars rapidly but to maintain them in a cool condition when not actually performing a. punching operation. 3rd.-To prevent the clogging of the twyers with .chilled slag or matte asat present prevails, with its consequent expense and through a failure to deliver the blast continuously into the charge with its reduc- .tion of the producing capacity of the vessel.

4th.-To realize the economies and the certainties that'result from doing such work thoroughly and at stated intervals by machinery, according to the requirements of the metallurgical work in hand; instead of attempting to accomplish the desired result by manual labor, with its well-known uncertainties and its failures,

1n present converter practice, the vessel is tipped from time to time as a means of discharging the slag, and during the period occupied in this work, the blast must be shut off; hence no special attention need be given to the twyers, inasmuch as these are elevated above the level of the molten bath while the converter is thus tipped. This occurs about once in every hour. At the end oi'stated periods, say at least once in three or four hours, the entire charge is poured. It is also necessary once.in every twenty-four hours to change During the intervals between charges, it is often necessary to repair the lining. Such frequent stoppages require time and they give the workmen employed as twyer-punchers a chance to rest. physically impossible for one set of twyer-punchers .by manual labor to keep the twyers of the ordinary converter open' and in a condition for the blast to enter the molten bath. Even under present conditions, the

'work is extremelylaborious and exacting.

It is the intention, by means of our invention, to make it possible to practice the art disclosed in United States Patent No. 766,654, issued August 2nd, 1904 and especially that portion of the process 'that is described more in detail in Serial No. 243,677, filed February 1st, 1905. It will be apparent however that our invention may be used with great success and economy in connection with other converters and furnaces.

Were it not for these, it would be 1n the large primary converterwhich is fully described and illustrated in the inventions above referrcd to, there is no pouring of slag, no repairing of the lining, no renewal of the lining, and in fact none of the delays, that are customary in ordinary practice. For this reason, it would be necessary with it for the workmen to be engaged continuously throughout an entire shift in punchingthe twyers, in order to keep these open, so that the converting blast could enterthe molten bath effectively. The large converter referred to is provided with thirty-two twyers; hence more twyers would manifestly have to be kept in Working order by the workmen than prevails in present practice. c In the special work described in the inventions above referred to, it is the intention to use this large converter exclusively in melting a primary bath of suliid ores. That is to say, in melting a bath from ores that are rich in sulfur, iron and otheroxidizable elements and compounds. Such a bath will necessarily be hotter, more fluid and-more corrosive than ordinary converter mattes such as are usually treated in converters; hence, ordinarily speaking, there will not be as much trouble in keeping the twyersfree' and open and in continuous operation, with this large primary converter as would be the case when ordinary converter mattes were under treatment. Notwithstanding this fact however, it will be apparent that it would one set of tWyer-punchers to keep thirtytwo twyers even in this large primary converter in operationly continuous manual labor throughout an entire shift. We have therefore invented means by which this work can be done by machinery. c

In the process of treating ores, described in the inventions above referred to, we can operate converters continuously in doing the work, and in smelting the ores that are ordinarily smelted in blastlfurnaces.

Until our discovery of a method of operating converters continuously without relining them, as described in the said inventions, it was not possible to do this .class of work in a-converter.

The twyers in ordinary blast furnaces vary from three and one-half to six inches in diameter, and the; level of the melted material is always kept below their level. For this reason it is not difficult for the workmen to keep them open and in continuous operation, assuming that other conditions in' the. furnace are favorable.' Because of this there will not be the same necessity for our invention in connection with furnaces that will exist in converter work. Another point is the fact that: furnace walls remain in a fixed, permanent "position; hence the mechanical problem [or attaching our twyer-punching mechanism is a simpleonqwhen compared to'th'at of a tipping converter. We have foi" this reason, not shown, drawings of theapparatus attached to a fixed furnacer' In converter work-thetwyer-orifice is seldom if ever more than one and onequarter inches and thepn-nehing-rod is seldom more i than sevn-ighths of an inchcharge too, in contradistinet furnace, is practicallyalwayskept above the twyerlevel, andit must be above this level while converting,

met er. Themolten to that in the blast is in progress. It will therefore be apparent that when a converter is utilized, our case, to do the work and spasmodic hand-punching is resorted to.

of a smelting furnace in melting ores, some method of keeping the converting twyers in continuous free operation is of great importance. It is a well known fact that a few moments neglect of a converter twyer often puts it out of operation, permits it to become clogged with congealed slag or matte and renders it difficult to reopen, so that the converting blast may again pass through it and so that itcan do effective work. It will be apparent that a few such clogged twyers in .a converter will seriously retard the work and that they will proportionately reduce the productive capacity of the vessel. Where continuous operation is required, as in our case, unless provision be made for keeping the twyers always open by machinery; the inevitable result will be serious complications, which-will in a short time bring the 'work to a full stop.

We have discovered that the best-method of preventing clogged twyers, is to punch each separate one in the vessel, so often and so rapidly that there can be no chance for chilled accretions to clog and to obstruct them. This result can manifestly be attained better through the medium of suitable machinery, than it is of converters and of furnaces by machinery is broadly new, and as such we intend to claim it. Our means of punching twyersnot only saves a great amount of labor, but by steady and continuous work,

such as it is impossible to secure by manual labor, it

becomes the means of afiording an efficiency in the blast and of producing effective results in a given time that cannot be approached by any ex'isting method. It should be noted in this connection, that the entering blast produces an oxidation of the sulfids of the base metals, and that the success of the process will depend solely upon the free entrance of the'air through the twyers. Our invention offers a feasible-and reliable method of accomplishing this result,"especially on so large a scale. v Ideal practice would be to punch each twyer.periodically by suitable mechanism as often as may be found necessary to keep it entirely free, open and clear from congealed obstructions. The frequency of such punching will necessarily be governedlargely by the character of the material under treatment. Some materials such as high-grade matte, slag or blister copper will congeal more'rapidly than molten sulfids. Itisthe intention that this punching shall be done periodically and continuou'sly, say for-instance, 'in a converter having six teen twyers, two can he punched atone timeand this could be followed by two others. so that in one complete revolution of the machine-shaft, the entire sixteeg twyers would be thus punched in pairs. This woul have the effect of keeping all of the twyers open and I I free so that the blast would be enabled to act continuously at itsmaximum .efiiciency. It would also have the effect of keeping the molten contents in a hot, fluid state so that there will not be the same tendency to clog and toclose the twyers. that now exists where irregular similar vessel in which the twyers are punched by hand.

In the firstapparatus illustrated in the drawings, it is the intention that each separate twyer shall be punched once every sixty seconds and that the point or tip of the punching-bar shall obstruct or shut off the entering blast only for a period of live seconds at each entrance of the rod. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the fact that this is in marked contrast with present practice.

Attention is called to the fact that the punching rod is purposely made so much less in diameter that a free passage for the entering blast is left around it in the twyer-orifice at all times, excepting during the five seconds that the rod is in actual contact with the slag or matte that forms the interior coating of the converter wall. It is also worth noting that the volume of blast that enters the converter cannot be measured, as is popularly supposed, by the diameter of the. twyer-orifice. Its volume is governed solely by the sizeof the punching-rod, or in other words, by the size of the orifice that this punching-bar forces through the interior slag or matte lining on the interior wall.

An important element of success in practicing this art will consist in punching the twyers by this mechanism so often that it will be impossible for chilled accretions to form in any twyer of the series. If this be not done and if chilled secretions be permitted to obstruct any one or more of them, this neglect may cause trouble and may thereafter obstruct or prevent the successful working of the apparatus. In short, the twyers cannot well be punched too often; but they may easily be punched too seldom.

we prefer to use converters or furnaces whose walls are composed ofheavy metal blocks, such for instance as blocksmade of copper, steel or iron. These may be supplemented with an interior lining of basic refractory, such for instance as magnesite, chrome &c.; or they may be supplemented with an acid lining such for instance as silica brick or silica compacted into position in a plastic condition. The converter may be an exact nicety, so

stant in thickness. because we do not depend upon the corrosion of the silica lining to satisfy the iron in our matte. This fact we find of great importance in connection with our invention. because it. enables us to regulate the travel of each punching-bar at will and to that it will effectually; perform its mission. i j v Referring now a; the drawingszour first form of mechanism as shown is arranged to punch the twyers in series of four at one time and at intervals of one minute, and with the end of each punching-rod obstructing the entrance of the blast in each orifice for a period thatdoes not exceed five seconds. Its speed may be increased or reduced so as to produce the'best spur-wheel 8. This, in turn, through its shaft, actuates the pinion 9, which latter actuates the spur-wheel 10 and it, through the medium of its shaft, actuates the pinion 11 which in turn propels the spur-wheel 12. The latter is securely fastened to the main shaft 13, which extends the length of the converter and carries the wheels 14. Each of these wheels 14 is provided with gearing throughout a sufficientportion of its periphery to actuate periodically and intermittently the pinions 15. Only the requisite number of teeth are provided on each wheel 14 to propel its companion pinion 15 one complete revolution. In the drawings the wheels 14 are speeded to make one revolution per minute; hence each pinion 15 makes one complete revolution in a fraction of a minute and during the reits shaft to the lever 16. The lever 16 actuates the re-- ciprocating lever mechanism 17. In Fig. 2, 17 is illustrated in two different positions. In one the punching-bar is shown at its-greatest thrust into'the converter, and it is also shown in its position'of rest,

after the punching-bar has been driven into the converter and has been again pulled out of the converter wall, in which position it remains dormant until the cog-gearing on the wheel 14 again actuates it after an interval of aboutone minute, in performing its mission of punching the twyer-orifice.

In Fig. 2 wefillustrate at 18 a convenient device for applying power to the punching-bar 19, through the lever 17. The punching-bar 19 is shown equipped with a sleeve, gib and set-screw, which are more fully illustrated in detail in Fig. 4. This sleeve may by means of a hand-wrench be quickly tightened in any position on the punching-bar that is desired. Thus, if the end of the punching-bar from time to time, burns off, through long, continuous service, this sleeve may be quickly loosened and moved to a new location so that the bar will enter the twyer the requisite distance to produce effective work. In Fig. 3, the working of this apparatus is illustrated more in detail and in addition, the lever 17 is shown in a new position, in which it can be quickly placed if desired, in order that the punching-bar 19 may be temporarily actuated by hand.

. by hand. The sleeve 20 may then be used to hold the dog, and the punching-rod may be removed from the twyer by means of the dog or with a sledge hammer, if preferred. In lieu of using the sleeve for the purthe punching-rod'into the twyer-orifice by band.

Fig. 5 also illustrates a convenient method of adjusting the location of the lever 17 on the punching-rod 19,

by means of the screw hand-Wheels 21. This is an alternate device, supplementary to that shown in Fig. 4 and in the other illustrations of the series wherein the sleeveprovided with a gib and set-screw is used.

In addition to the regular ball-valve 22 in the windbox, as illustrated in Fig. 3, we may provide the converter with a Stufling-box as shown at 23.

24 illustrates the seamless brass tube hereinbeforedescribed with which we prefer to line the twyer-orifice. In Fig. 3 this orifice is shown with a contracted tip near the interior portion of the vessel-wall. When the punching-rod is at rest, its tip will be back in the larger portion of the orifice, so that the blast passes freely around it and through the contracted portion into the molten bath. During the short time that the punching'bar is thrust forward by the mechanism, it temporarily enters the contracted portion of the orifice, as shown at 25. The contracted portion of the orifice is considerably larger than the tip of the punchingrod, so that the blast can at all times pass freely around it and can exert its full pressure during the act of withdrawing the punching-rod from the interior of I the vessel. This prevents the molten bath from following the punching-rod and filling the orifice where it would qiiiekly chill within the walls of the. converter if this provision were not made.

It will here be explained that when the punchingbar is in its retracted position, it lies in the channel of the cold entering air blast, whereby its forward end is clean andcold prior to the act of punching. The power mechanism which actuates the punching bar is arranged to work the bar so as to make a sudden forward stab through the twyer into the converter and is then instantly jerked out of the orifice and brought back into the rear portion ofjthe twyer, whereby it is I absolutely impossiblelin this short time to have the temperature of the bar materially raised, and in any event, it is not sufiicientlyincreased to make it possible for molten matte or slag to adhere thereto.

In any form of twyer punching, whetherthe work is done. by machinery or by hand, ample provision must be made for the removal of congealed slag or by the corrosive elements in the bath, and while thus heated perhaps to the fusion point a bond of matte and slag is formed with the body of the bar that is practically as firm and indestructibleas the metal of the bar itself. Such accretionsthen cause the bar to stick firmly inthe orifice and. necessitate the ultimate removal of the bar with sledges and dogs. After it has been "removed the accretions can only be separated from it by plunging the tip of the bar in cold water and by hammering it with sledge hammers. We prevent the occurrence of troubles of this description.

Referring again to the drawings, 26 in Figs. 7,8, 9, and 10 illustrates a removable plug, that maybe composed of tool steel, nickel or manganese steel, chilled iron, steel or malleable iron castings, or such similar material; the object being to use some material that will hold cutting edges at 27 where thepunchingbar passes backwards and forwards obliquely through the orifice in the plug provided for that purpose, and will also withstand successfully the heat of the chilled accretions of slag and matte and the heat of the punching-bar each time the latter is withdrawn from the molten bath. We have found that malleable iron is a very suitable material for this purpose, but many other materials may successfully accomplish the desired result.

Vlien work is commenced in. this converter, the punching-bar will be at a state of rest, as far removed from the interior of the "essel as the lever 17 will permit. In this position it will'be continuously subject to the cooling influence of the entering blast 1 which will surround it on all sides. It will therefore be thoroughly cooled before it commences its work of punching the twyers. When the mechanism is started it will make one quick thrust through the interior wall and fora short distance into the molten bath whence it will be immediately withdrawn. The bar will be cold to start with, and its sojourn within the molten bath cannot exceed five seconds, when it is immediatelywithdrawn. It will therefore be impossible for it to become sufliciently heated during this brief period so that the corrosive matte can seriously heat it or seriously attack its exterior. For thesereasons a firm bond of matte or slag cannot form upon its tip as is now so common hand-punching. In'other words the bond between the bar and any chilled accretions that may stick to it will be so slight that the latter can be removed when it is returned through the plug 26 to its position of rest. As these chilled accretions are cut loose from the bar, they drop into the receptacle 28 provided for their reception. This receptacle as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is approximately twelve inches long by about one and one-half inches wide. It may be made greater or less. After the bar has'thus been stripped of its accumulation of chilled accretions and after it has been restored to its position .of rest, it will thereafter be again surrounded by the cold entering blast for a period of fifty-five seconds, during which time it will be afforded an opportunity, under favorable surrounding conditions, to be cooled thoroughly,

before it is called on to make another thrust into the -of other suitable material and is intended to make an- 27 illustrates the cutting edges 'on air-tight seal for the plug 26 in order to prevent the escape 'of the air-blast at this point. We do not consider this feature necessary. If the circle of the plug at 30 be made a snug fit, the escape of blast will be so trifling as to be unimportant.

' of the rod. It also illustrates at 32 the cutaway portion of the plug 26 in order at this point to permit the free fss passage of the blast past it on each side, through the twyer-orifice.

Fig. 9 illustrates aside view of the plug 26. It shows the grooves 32 through which the air-blast passes around the plug 26. into the converter.

Fig. '10 illustrates a convenient method of quickly securing the plug 26 into its position in the converter wall so that it will be firmly heldwhile performing its:

work. By a simple turning of the hand-wheels 33, which are mounted on hinges asshown in Fig. 7 the plug 26 may be instantly released and removed or it may be withdrawn a few inches and held in thisposition, whereupon the escaping blast through the receptacle 28 will instantly discharge any accumulation of scale.

Another mechanism with which our invention may be successfully practiced, consists of a framework or car, Figs. 11, l2, l3, l4 and 15, which constitutes a carrier for long cylinders. The framework may either be hung from the ceiling, it may be swung from an overhead trolley car, or it may be mounted on a car that travels on the ground level. It may be provided with one, two or with any number of cylinders, the pistons of which have sufficient travel to admit of the direct punching of the twyers. It will be found convenient tomake provision for attaching this framework temporarily to the converter on either side as a means of absorbing the thrust of the piston or pistons. The

power utilized for this purpose may be compressed air, 1

steam or hydraulic pressure. In the drawings we show the pistdns actuated by compressed air intermittently motor.

34 illustrates the framework or carriage oi the apparatus..

35 in Figs. l1, l2 and 13, illustrates the wheels that carry the framework.

36 in Fig. 13 illustrates the track or tramway, on

' which the wheels that carry the carriage or framework tion.

1 in Figs 11 and 12 illustrates bell-mouthed guides for the punching-bars, that are intended to catch the tip of the punching-rod after each removal from the i orifice and to facilitate its passage through the windbox and twyer in performing its mission.

42 in Figs. 11, 12 and 14,illustrat es the electric motor to the shaft 43 by means which communicates power .ating-valve 48 by means of the eccentric rod 49.

of the gear-wheels 44. Power is communicated from the shaft 43 by means ,of the endless chain 45, Fig. 12, to the shaft 46. The latter communicates pow er by means of an eccentric 47, Figs. 1] and 12, to the oper- In .70 this manner the operating-valve 48 is operated periodically' or intermittently at anydesired speed, by a proper adjustment of the electric motor so that it will accomplishthe result desired. it is only intended that the eccentric rod 49 shall operate the valve-operating mechanism 48 to admit power at stated intervals to one side of the cylinder as shown at 5(l, whorcby a pistonrod 38 carrying the cross-head 40 and the four punchingbars 39 is driven forward. After the piston-rod has accomplished its full travel, the cross-head 40 engages the collar 5] which operates the rod52 which in turn actuates the valve in opposite direction as shown at 53. Figs. 14 and 15 are intended to illustrate in detail, one mode of removing congealed scale from the punching-rod, each time the same is withdrawn from the ori- 5 lice, should any such scale exist.

Attention is again called to the fact that because the bar is thoroughly cooled before it is driven forward to punch the orifice, because its sojourn within the heat area of the interior is short and because it is constantly subjected to the chilling effect of the entering olast under pressure which surrounds the tip at all times, it will be impossible for molten slag or matte to form a bond with its surface. Nevertheless, in order to make assurance doubly sure and to guarantee the clean condition of the rod before it' enters the orifice, we preferably provide a water-cooling jet 54 with its catch-basin 55 so-locatcd that it can play a stream of cold water to any desired extent and in any desired volume over the surface of the punching-bar during its withdrawal from the orifice. The shrinkage of molten slag or matte in cooling is so great that it will so contract any hot accretions as to cause them to cracl: and drop from the rod.

if preferred, the equivalent of this chilling device in the form of a mop or brush thoroughly saturated with moisture may be used, without departing from the spirit of our invention. In addition to this device we provide preferably, rollers 56, Figs. 14 and 15, whose faces are grooved as shown in Fig. 15, to correspond closely with the exact diameter of the punching-rod. These rollers revolve and thoroughly crush and remove any chilled accretion during the withdrawal of the punching-bar 39, especially after it has been thoroughly chilled and thus rendered brittle by the action of the water-jet. The facesoftheserollers maybe corrugated, if preferred. In addition to the rollers herein described, we also preferably provide a thimble 57, Fig. 14, that has cutting edges on the side nearest to the converter. The size of this thimble with its cutting edges is such that it neatly fits. the entire circumference of the punchingbar 39 and during the withdrawal of the punching-bar the cutting edges scrape loose and remove thoroughly and effectually every vestige. of scale that may have succeeded in passing the two devices hereinbefore de scribed. i

In Fig. 14, one form of punching-bar isshown that is uniform in diameter throughout itsv entire length, as a means of facilitating the successful operation of '1 the three scale-removing devices as described. The

an actuator common to all of said means, substantially as described.

twyer-orifice at 58 is larger than the diameter of the punching-bar, so that blast under pressure may pass would follow it out into the twyer-orifice where it would chill and thus effectually clog the twyer. In order to prevent this result, the tip of the punchingrod is made materially less in diameter than the diameter of even the contracted portion of the twyerorifice. For this reason the blast under pressure can constantly pass around the outside diameter of the bar during the latters withdrawal, and indeed at all times. This pressure has the effect at all times of preventing the escape of any molten material through the twyer-orifice.

In Fig. 11 the pnnchng-rod is shown with two different diameters The smaller diameter is shown at 39 and the larger diameter is shown at 59. The reason for this is because in Fig. 11 no apparatus is shown for the removal of congealed accretions, for the reasons hereinbeiore given. In regular practice, no such accretions will accumulate upon the rod beyond possibly some slight grit A stuffing-box is shown. at 60 which it is intended shall contain packing of some description as a means of preventing leakage of air from the windbox while the baris within the opening. When the bar is out, the ball-valve 61 falls into its seat by gravity and closes the opening thus also-preventing the escape of air. The enlarged portion of the punching-bar 59 does not come into contact with any molten material; hence its surface will always be clean, and as a consequence it may safely be permitted to travel through the packing of any description that is used at 60 without fear of any injurious cutting action. The

reduced or smaller diameter of the punching-bar as shown at 39 will come into direct contact at its tip at each thrust, with the molten material contained in the converter. Hence when this passes through the stuffing-box at 60 during its withdrawal from the orifice,

suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of our invention, since we believe we are the first to employ mechanical devices for punching the twyers, instead of punching them by hand.

1. A smelter having a series of twyers, slag-removing means therefor operating independently of each other, and

2. A smelter having aseries of twyer orifices, slag-removing means for the orifices, and an actuator common to the slag-removingmeans for successively operating the same, substantially as described.

3. A smelter having a series of twyers, punches for the twyers operating independently of each other, and actuat lug means common to all the punches, substantially as described.

v 4. A smelter having a series of twyer orifices, punches for the twyers, and actuating means common to all the punches for successively actuating them, substantially as described. 4

Means for increasing'the air-blast of converters and fiu-naces, which consists in the combination with such converter or furnace having twyer-oriiices, of punching-bars extending thereinto, and automatic means for operating said punching-bars periodically; substantially as described.

6. A smelter having twycr orifices, punching bars working in the orifices and connected in groups, and an ac tuator common .to all the groups for operating them sucrcssivcly and periodically, substantially as described.

7. Means for increasing the air-blast of converters and furnaces, which consists in the combination with such converter or furnace having twyer-orifices, of punchingwiih the punchingbars for reciprocating them, and a holding device adapted to permit longitudinal adjustment of the bars to compensate for their burning ofi; substantially as described.

S. Blast apparatus including a twyer having its orifice contracted in diameter at its inner end, and a punching" bar working in the twyer and having its front end portion of a diameter to work freely through the contracted portion of the twyer orifice, the punchingbar being normally disposed with its forward end in rear of thecontracted portion of the orifice to prevent obstructing the twyer, substantially as described.

9. Blast apparatus including a twyer having the inner end of its orifice contracted in diameter, a wind'box, a tube leading from the wind boir into the twyer orifice and con-- stituting a lining therefor, and a punching-bar working through the wind box. the tube and the twyer orifice and having its forward end of a dinmeteiless than that of the contracted portion of the twyer, said bar being normally located with its forward end in rear of the contracted portion of the twyer to prevent choking thereof, substantiallyas described.

10. Means for increasing the airblast of converters and furnaces, which consists in the combination with such converter or furnace having twyeuorifices, of punching bars extending thereinto, and means for removing scale from the bars; substantially-as described.

11. Means for increasing the ainblast of converters and furnaces, which consists in the combination with such converter or furnace having twyer-orifices, of punchingbars extending thereinto, operating mechanism connected in the twyer-orifices with the punching-bars for reciproeating them, and means for removing scale from the bars; substantially as described.

12. Means for increasing the air=blast of converters and furnaces, which consists in the combination with such converter or furnace having twyer-orifices, of punchingbars extending thereinto, means for removing scale from the bars, and a receptacle at the tWyer-orifices to receive the detached scale; substantially as described.

13. Means for increasing the air-blast of converters and furnaces, which consists in the combination with such converter or furnace having twyer-orifices, of punchingbars extending thereinto, and cutting or scraping devices to remove scale from the bars; substantially as described.

14. Means for increasing the air-blast of converters and furnaces, which consists in the combination with such converter or furnace having twyer-orifices, of punchinghars extending tbereinto; and plugs having cutting edges to remove scale from the bars; substantiallyas described.

15. Means for increasing the air-blast of converters and furnaces. which consists in the combination with such' converter or furnace having twyer-orifices of punchingbars extending thereinto, and plugs extending transversely across the -twyer-orifices having cutting edges to remove scale from the bars; substantially as described.

16. Means for increasing the air blast of converters and furnaces, which consists in the combination with such converter or furnace having twyer orifices, of punchingbars extending thereint'o; scale-removing devices for the bars and means for cooling, contracting and removing such scale by an application of a cooling medium; substantially as described.

bars extending thereinto, operating mechanism connected 17. Blast apparatus having automatic means to prevent clogging of the twyer orifices by chilled slag or matte, sub stantiaiiy as described.

18. Blast apparatus having a series of independent twyer-punchlng bars, and power-actuated means common to the bars for successively operating the same, substantially as described.

19. Blast apparatus having a series of independent twyer-punching bars, and poweractuated means common to the bars for successively and periodically operating them, substantially as described.

20. Blast apparatus having a series of independent. twyer-punching bars, and means common to all of the bars for successively operating them, each bar being assot-iated with the operating means by a detachable con- 15 nection which is accessible for disconnecting any bar independentiy oi the other bars, substantially as described.

21. Blast apparatus having a series of independent twyer-punchlng bars, a'contlnuously operating motor, and

means controlled by the motor for periodically and suc- 2 0 cessively. actuating the bars, substantially as described.

in testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands. 

